The service carried Riverside branding and was intended to open up the South Bank, connecting visitor attractions including the National Theatre, London Eye, Royal Festival Hall and Tate Modern.

[2] It was one of the first routes in London to use off-bus ticketing only, leading to quicker boarding and journey times, and unusually operated at the same frequency on Sundays as on other days of the week.

Between September 2004 and January 2007, three trial fuel cell powered Mercedes-Benz Citaros were used on this route to compare their efficiency with their diesel equivalents.

[6][7] On 22 June 2013, route RV1 was included in the sale of First London's Lea Interchange garage to Tower Transit.

[16][17] Following declining usage and a frequency cut in February 2018, it was proposed by Transport for London that the route be withdrawn.